You have moved past the half-way point in our study! I want to thank you for your diligence and for your desire to know God better through a study of His Word. I continue to pray for all of us that God, in His mercy, will teach us the things we need for this day. And I continue to pray that each of us will respond in faith and obedience to what we learn. Keep on ...
Our reading today is 2 Kings 4: 1 - 7. As you read, make note of the things that stand out most dramatically to you.
A couple of historical elements before we consider some lessons ...
First, in L. Ginzberg's, The Legends of the Jews, he says that Jewish tradition identifies this nameless woman as the wife of Obadiah. Do you remember reading in 1 Kings 18 about the prophet who hid 100 faithful prophets of God in caves, hiding them from Jezebel? Legend says this is the man. Scripture does not identify him for us and it does not change the lessons from the story ... but it's interesting, don't you think?! He says the debt was most likely accumulated when Obadiah had to borrow money to feed all those men. Perhaps ...
Secondly, in the ancient Near East, the lawful custom was for creditors to conscript labor for unpaid debts. However, it was not to last forever. Exodus 21:2 "When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt." We read more of those laws in Leviticus 25: 39 - 41.
Let's consider lessons for us ... I would love to hear what yours are! What appears to me is:
1. Elisha is ready to help this marginalized woman. He reflects the heart of God because Jehovah is always concerned about those who are the "least" in their world. Another reading from Exodus says: Exodus 22: 22 - 23 "You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry". Jesus himself continually reached out to those His society had no use for ... those who were expendable. In the New Testament letters, James says "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) Yes, Elisha was ready to help. Am I? Are you? Keep eyes open for the "least" that God places in your path. And respond.
2. I love that this woman was to use what she had. God could have made pots appear in her house. God could have made FULL pots appear in her house. But there is value is using what is in our hands. What has God given you? What is in your hand? What resources? What talents? What spiritual gifts? Will God's work be done with or without you? Yes ... it will. However, you will miss the thrill of participating with God in His miraculous work! Don't miss it!! Offer what you have ... and watch God multiply and supply.
3. Did you wonder why the closed door? I wonder about the significance of that little fact. Perhaps that is no significance ... but I can hear Jesus saying "When you pray, go into our room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6) There is intimacy in the closed door. This woman cannot credit Elisha with this provision ... it is from God ... it happened behind a closed door with no one else there. It is the same with you and I as we take our needs to God. Sometimes He will use another person to meet a need but the work of faith and the work of peace and the decision for obedience is first done "behind the closed door".
Have you spent time "behind the closed door" with your God today?
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